Assigknor to aslebxcaltf stebl



Sept. 2l 1926.

W. C.V HEDGCQCK BRAK SLACK ADJUSTER C-OMBINATION Filed NOV. 28, 1924 NN b Patented Sept. j ai, rase.

vUNrrE, estarse WILLIAM C. HEDGCOCK, OF CHAICAGQ, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR'TO AMERECN STEEL FOUNDRIESA, F CHlCAOfl-LLFQSpACORPORATIGN OF NEV JERSEY;

l BnAKn-stAeKnnJUsrnn cotrnmfi'rron. i

k'application fneairovember 2s, 1924. ,serial m5752538.

This invention relates to a brake slack` ad'- juster combination which 1s used ina yrigging of the beamless typer in which the-'truck levers are located in shoes and wheels. y V, h y

j One object of the invention 1s Vto, provide ytheplane vof the brake 'in the beamlesstype of brake rigging a sim-v ple, eflicient and durable brakek slack adjuster which includes means Yfor protecting the threaded members against dirt, dust and the like. Another object is'to provide a brake slack adjuster in whichtheparts cooperate in'an 'improved Vmanner tov meet yfthe various requirements underr operating conditions.

These and other'objects are `accomplished by means ofthe arrangement shown on `the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which `Figure 1 is afragmentary sideelevation of brake mechanism rused inthe beamless type of brake embodying my inventionr and show` ing a vertical section of certain of the parts:

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the arrangement shown in Figure 1, the brake levers being shown in section; and, f

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken in th plane of line 33 ofFigure 2.

The various novel features of the inventionwill be apparent from the following description and drawings and will be particularly pointed out in thev appended claims.

Referring to the figures of the drawings,

it will be noted that the invention is illustrated in connection with the kbeaymless type of brake'riggingin which the brake `levers and 11 are located in the plane ofthe truck wheels. 'A tension rod in the form of a frame has side arms 12 which arelocated on opposite sides of a truck wheel. A bracket 13 i's mounted inthe looped end of the frame, and secured to the `bracket by a rivet 14 is a jaw 15 pivotally connected at 16 to the lower end of thebrake lever 10.

The other brake lever 11 is adjustably connected to the tension rod or frame and guidedly supported therein by meansincluding a fulcrum block 17. The fulcrum block 17 is provided with a central opening 18 into which the lower end of the brake lever 11 eX- vtends and said end of the brake lever 11 is pivotally connected to the fulcrum block 17 by a pin 19, normally confined in'position by the sidearms. 12. The fulcrumblock has upper and lowerk flanges 20 and 21 which guidedly engage the upper and lower surfacilitated.

i TKET.

facesv respectively of the side armsfor guid-` kingnthe `fulcru'm block in its movements. Keys 22 nass through openings in 'wings 23 Ofsaid yflanges 20 and 21for assisting in holdingl the fulcrum block 17 in position wlthrespect to the side arms 12.

J Foyadjusting the fulerum block, and, ac

cordingly, the brake `lever 11 to compensate for slack caused, for example, *by wearing of the brake'shoes, a screw 24 is operatively connected, as at 25, to the fulcrum block 17. tivo part nut,or a nut having two housing portions 26 `and 27 cooperates with the screw 2/1 for adjustment purposes above mentioned.v

-More strictlyA speaking, the nut member 26,

including the threaded' portion 28, directly engagesthe thread onthe screw 24C, andsaid nut portionf26V is connectedv to the nutvportion 27 by interengagingy threads 29. Said nut portions or housings'26 and 27 are locked with respect to each other by anysuitable member 30 so that the nut members 26 and f 27 operate as a single integral piece so far as adjusting the position vof the fulcrum block 17 is concerned. The nut member26 -passes through an aperture 31 in lan end frame piece 32, which connects associated ends ofthe side arms 12. Y

From thearrangement thus far described, it will be-observed that by turning the'nutL member 27, by applying a wrench to the end thereof, the screw 24C may be moved in one `direction or the otherk for adjusting the position of the fulcrum member 17, thereby varying slack conditions. It will be observed also that the screw 241 is completelyenclosed and accordingly, protected from dirt, dust and other foreign materials. The

screw24 may beyieldably held in adjusted vI claim: l f

1. In brake mechanism, the combination of a frame including arms for location on opposite sides of. a truck wheel, ka brake lever 10oV i operatively connected to one endtliereo'f, a second brake lever adgustably connected to said frame, the adJustable connecting means including a lever ulcrum block movably,

carried by said arms, a screw` secured to said ulcrum block, and a nut cooperating with said screw for adjusting said fulcrum block and having a housing for covering and protecting said screw.

2. ln brake meelianisin, the combination of`a frame including arms forlocation'on opposite sides of a truck Wheel, abrake lever operatively connected to 'one' end thereof, a

'second brake lever'adjustably connected'to of a frame includingarms for location on opposite sides ot a truck Wheel, a brake lever operatively connected to one portion of the frame, `a second brake lever adjustably connected to another portion ot saidv frame, the adjust-able connecting means including a lever ulcrum' block movably carried by said arms, a' member bridging said arms, a scren7 operatively connected to said ulcrum block and passing through said bridging member, and a nut operating with said `screw wfor adjusting said ulcrum block and having a housing for covering and protecting said screw.

4. Inbrake mechanism, the combination of a frame including arms for location on opposite sides of 'a truclij Wheel, a bralre lever operatively connected to one portion of the rain'e,a second brake-lever adjustably Con'- nected to' another portiontoffsaid frame, the adjustable connecting means including a lever'fulcru'm ,blockfmovably carried by said arins,"a`member'bridging saidarms,` a screiv operatively connected to said ulcrum block and' passing through saidy bridging member, a'nutc'ooperating Withsaid'screw for adjusting said ulcrum block and having a housing forvv covering' and protecting said screw, andun'eans' associated with said nut and bridging member for holding said screw in adjusted position;

Signed 'at`Cliicago, Illinois, this 2nd day ot November, 1924.4

WILLIAMQHEDGGOCK. 

